The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has claimed that former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam won the last primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate its candidate for the Benue North East senatorial district.
INEC’s lawyer, Anthony Malik (SAN), made the claim while submitting on Wednesday at the hearing of a suit filed by Suswam, in which he is challenging the APC’s decision to hand the ticket to the incumbent, Senator Emmanuel Udenbe.
Suswam, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1470/2026, claimed to have won the primary and urged the court, among other things, to compel the APC to accord him the necessary recognition.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the APC, Udenbe and INEC.
Making his final submission on Wednesday, Malik urged the court to do justice in the case and affirm the result of the primary election, which shows that the plaintiff won.
Malik added that copies of INEC’s report of the primary election and the result of the exercise have been exhibited before the court.
Earlier, Suswam’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) prayed the court to grant all the reliefs as sought by the plaintiff in the suit.
Okutepa urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objections filed by the APC and Udenbe, arguing that they are without merit.
Lawyer to the APC, A. G. Yirvoms, urged the court to uphold his client’s objection and dismiss the suit.
Udenbe’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), spoke in a similar manner and prayed the court to dismiss the suit.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned till October 12 for judgment.
Justice Ekwo said parties would be notified if the judgment becomes ready before the October date.
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